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Stainless Panel required on a Salt water boat dock

Hi

We have a concrete fixed pier which has several boat docks attached over a salt water Bay. We've installed a standard watertight panel with branches to each dock, water tight fixtures, etc. The panel is more than 30 inches above high water level. The inspector (as AHJ) is requiring a Stainless enclosure around the panel to protect from salt water in the air, saying the panel will rust in under 2 years and is not appropriate for the location.

Has anyone else heard of this being required? Thank you for the advice.

We have a concrete fixed pier which has several boat docks attached over a salt water Bay. We've installed a standard watertight panel with branches to each dock, water tight fixtures, etc. The panel is more than 30 inches above high water level. The inspector (as AHJ) is requiring a Stainless enclosure around the panel to protect from salt water in the air, saying the panel will rust in under 2 years and is not appropriate for the location.

Has anyone else heard of this being required? Thank you for the advice.

It certainly isn't explicit in the NEC. He may be within his rights to require the additional protection under the "suitable for the intended use" principal. It would be better if the local jurisdiction codified that requirement, however. You may have to start investigating the wonderful (and very expensive) world of Hoffman enclosures.

It certainly isn't explicit in the NEC. He may be within his rights to require the additional protection under the "suitable for the intended use" principal. It would be better if the local jurisdiction codified that requirement, however. You may have to start investigating the wonderful (and very expensive) world of Hoffman enclosures.

I believe it is explicit enough in Sections 110.11 and 300.6. The NEC is NOT a design manual for the inexperienced [Section 90.1(the very first NEC rule)]

I was on the Working Committee for IEEE P1713, Recommended Practice for Electrical Shore-to-Ship Connections. There are quite a few conditions that should be considered for marine installations.

We have a concrete fixed pier which has several boat docks attached over a salt water Bay. We've installed a standard watertight panel with branches to each dock, water tight fixtures, etc. The panel is more than 30 inches above high water level. The inspector (as AHJ) is requiring a Stainless enclosure around the panel to protect from salt water in the air, saying the panel will rust in under 2 years and is not appropriate for the location.

Has anyone else heard of this being required? Thank you for the advice.

He is right in that you need to protect from corrosion, he is wrong in that stainless is the only option unless there is some local requirement. PVC or fiberglass enclosures certainly won't rust out.

We have a concrete fixed pier which has several boat docks attached over a salt water Bay. We've installed a standard watertight panel with branches to each dock, water tight fixtures, etc. The panel is more than 30 inches above high water level. The inspector (as AHJ) is requiring a Stainless enclosure around the panel to protect from salt water in the air, saying the panel will rust in under 2 years and is not appropriate for the location.

Has anyone else heard of this being required? Thank you for the advice.

NEC required or not, it's an exceptionally good idea. Anything that's not 316 stainless or non-metallic will ROT in the weather in a marine environment. Quickly. I'm dealing with this right now: a fellow subcontractor did not properly weatherproof some of their equipment for use in a marine environment. It stopped working electrically, and started showing rust within two weeks of installation. Our (properly weatherproofed) gear, in 316SS and fiberglass enclosures, is working fine.

Thank you

Dear All, Thank you for weighing in on the problem. The advice to Marine Coat it or use some other kind of panel is good. I will check if the AHJ actually does have a local code requirement too.
Kind regards, KMR

NEC required or not, it's an exceptionally good idea. Anything that's not 316 stainless or non-metallic will ROT in the weather in a marine environment. Quickly. I'm dealing with this right now: a fellow subcontractor did not properly weatherproof some of their equipment for use in a marine environment. It stopped working electrically, and started showing rust within two weeks of installation. Our (properly weatherproofed) gear, in 316SS and fiberglass enclosures, is working fine.

my experience has been, that hot dipped galvanized steel is pretty
resistant to salt spray corrosion. honestly, better that 316. that info
was given to me by an old shipbuilder, who did restoration work on old
sailboats. he had to change out a couple hot dipped gal nails in the hull,
and they'd been in salt water for about 80 years at that point.

if there is anywhere the coating is broken, it's gonna rust in a week. toast in two years.

i put some 3R panels near the water 4 years ago. as in within 30' of the salty pacific.
if i get a chance, i'll stop by and take some photos. i'm over in that area tomorrow afternoon.